Joanna M. Normandin, 91, Hays, died Monday, July 14, 2025 at Via Christi Village.
She was born July 8, 1934 in Stockton, the daughter of Meddie and Genevieve (St. Peter) Burton. Joanna was a graduate of Damar High School with the class of 1952, and on September 1, 1953, she was united in marriage to Melvin L. Normandin. They celebrated nearly 61 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on August 4, 2014. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, and a former member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Sodality, both in Damar. Joanna was a loyal KU Jayhawks and Kansas City Chiefs fan, but most of all, she was a loving mother and grandmother, always caring and praying for her family.
Survivors include her sons, Ken Normandin and wife Janet of Valley Center and Joe Normandin and wife Nancy of Edmond, OK, her daughters, Vali Leis and husband Dan of Hays, and Mary Belisle and husband Paul of Damar, two brothers, Leo Burton and wife Linda of Lenexa and Bob Burton and wife Betty of Shawnee, two sisters, Madonna Dodd and husband Doyle of Wichita and LeAnn Sack of Hays, her sister-in-law, Helga Burton of Goshen, IN, 12 grandchildren, Brandon Leis, Erin Gibson, Matt Leis, Nick Leis, Jessi West, Jenna Normandin, Angela Wisecarver, Sarah Hyde, Josh Belisle, Mark Belisle, Rachael Dreiling, and Eric Belisle, 13 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers LeRoy and Ron Burton, a brother-in-law Troy Sack, and two sisters-in-law, Kay Burton and Mary Burton.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Friday, July 18, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Damar with Fr. Curtis Carlson, OFM Cap. and Fr. Harvey Dinkel, OFM Cap. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street in Hays, and from 9:00 am until service time on Friday at the church in Damar. A vigil service and rosary will be at 6:00 pm on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested for masses or to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi Village or to the Capuchin Province of Mid-America, Inc. Condolences and memories of Joanna may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com